Agua Viva congregation builds new church in Belfair

When Joaquin Miguel first began attending the Iglesia Agua Viva, or Church of Living Water, in Belfair, he felt blessed to have found a place to worship God in his new home country.

Little did he know that nearly 20 years later, he would be at the helm of the church, not only leading others to the word of God, but also leading the fast-growing church into a new phase, into a brand new building on North Shore Road in Belfair.

“We built a church and, to me, that is a great blessing,” Miguel told members of the North Mason Community Voice, Monday, July 24, partially through a translator, Nicole Hernandez, of Belfair. “If we believe in God, we can do anything. This is a dream that can only be had in this country.”

Miguel came to the United States from Guatemala at 14 years old, after his father had applied for asylum due to the civil war that afflicted their home country.

Miguel went to school, worked in various fields, learned English and eventually obtained U.S. citizenship, all while attending a small church in Belfair that in its beginning only had 12 congregants.

The Iglesia Agua Viva Internacional rented space on Highway 3 in the building that once housed the Glory Room and the Belfair Café.

Pastor Oscar Dominguez and his wife, Lydia Dominguez, started the church on Nov. 3, 1998, but in 2001, Oscar Dominguez died.

Lydia Dominguez continued with the ministry, and by that time, she had convinced Miguel to get his credentials and work as an associate pastor with her.

“I did everything,” Miguel recalled. “I was the secretary, the deacon. I would even sweep the church … They said I had the calling of a pastor, and at first I didn’t accept it. I just wanted to go to church. I didn’t want the responsibility.”

Miguel worked under Lydia Dominguez for 10 years, learning from her.

“She loved me as a son,” he said. “She was tough. I respected her and I loved her dearly because she taught me a lot.”

On June 18, 2008, Dominguez told Miguel it was time he took over the church.

“I was only 29 years old at the time,” he said. “We had 35 to 40 people then … I told her I never wanted to be a pastor. I had a family. I wanted to work. She said, ‘If you love God, you can do anything.’ I said, ‘OK.’”

Miguel steadily grew the church; by 2009, he had easily doubled the number of congregants who attended, and now, he estimates that there are about 500 parishioners including 100 children.

In 2012, church members began talking about building a church, as their membership had outgrown the space they had been renting for 13 years.

Miguel approached construction worker Rich Moore of Belfair with $50,000 he had raised from tithes and asked what he could build for that money.

Moore turned him away until Miguel came back with $100,000.

“He told me, ‘Now we can buy property and I will help you build a church because I see in you that you love God,’” Miguel recalled.

The church paid cash for the property ($86,500) and began raising more money to build the church, which is scheduled to open for its first service at 2 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 20.

The new church building will have a small kitchen, offices and meeting spaces.

Miguel estimates that there are around 5,000 Guatemalans in Bremerton, Belfair and Shelton.

Members of the Voice offered their support to Miguel and his church in the form of organizing CPR and First Aid classes, English classes and a chance to connect with other local pastors.

In addition to sharing his story, Miguel also shared his appreciation for being invited to speak.

“You have no idea how much this means to me,” he said. “Our community, we feel that no one likes us and no one wants to help us out. People see one bad example and they think we’re all bad. My people, they’re hard workers, they give their time and they respect the laws.”

Agua Viva is open to churchgoers of any background. For more information, visit iglesiaaguavivainternacional.org.